Improvement in steering-apparatus



tlnted gieten sind dtjiil.

IMIPRQVEMENT IN STEERING-APPARATUS.

The' Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of 4the same.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DAVIS, of Stony Brook, in the county of Suffolk, and State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steerand consists in constructing and arranging a chain-pnl ley in such a manner, that a chain may be eiectively used in combination with a traversing-Wheel, as will be hereinafter more fully'described.

In the accompanying plate of drawings- Figure l represents a perspective view of the stern of a vessel with my steering-apparatus attached.

Figure 2 is a section of the chain-pulley.

- Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention is designed to apply to that class of steering-apparatus where a traversin g-frame and wheel are attached to the rudder-post, and more generally in use on the smaller class ofvessels, as sloops and schooners, the rudder being moved directly thereby, while all the apparatus connected therewith is on the deck of the vessel, and under the eye of the helmsrnan or pilot.

I am aware that it is not new, or patentable to substit-ute a chain for a rope in this description of service, but I am not aware thata chain-pulley has been used in combination with a traversing-wheel, or any-other steering-wheel, so constructed as to effectually prevent the slipping of the chain on its pulley.

A is the rudder-post, c

B is the traversing-frame, and

C is the steering-wheel.

I) is the `windlass-drum, around which the rope is wound in the steering-apparatus in common use.

To this windlass or drum I attach my chain-pulley, E'. This I have so constructed that it may be applied to the ordinary windlasses now in use. l

This pulley is made of cast-iron, with a deep V-sbaped groove or channel in its face or periphery, the sides of which groove are recessed out, as seen in g. 2, so as to it the links of the chain', and to most eiectually prevent the slipping ofthe chain.

In using a rope over the drum in this manner, great inconvenience is experienced from the constant stretching of the rope. Every time 'the rudder is turned, a quantity of slack has to be taken up before the rudder feels the movement of the wheel, and where the chain is used, if the chain ,slips overthe pulley or windlass, the diiiiculty is'quitevas great.

In the use ofmychain-pulley there is no slip, and there 'can be no slacln The safety ofthe vessel, and the lives of those on board frequently depends upon therudden It is con/ sequently of ,the utmost importance that the apparatus by which it is operated should be made instantly eective, and be of the most durable character as regards its construction. Y

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letter Patent- In combination with the steering-wheel and windlass C D, or their equivalents, the chain-pulley E, constructed as described, -and for the purposes set forth.

v GEORGE H. DAVIS.'

Witnesses:

ALFRED H. MILL, RICHARD DAVIS. 

